The Rising Sun News

Today saw some exciting events for the Gamba faithful. Firstly, we had the return of Yasuhito Endo - sorely missed in midweek against Kyoto Sanga - to the starting line-up - what n impact he would make later in the game! Next was the unveiling of new forward - the Korean international newly poached from Jubilo iwata - Lee Keun Ho, who started on the bench for today - an inspired acquisition by coach Nishino? We shall see. And we also saw the presentation of flowers at the start of the game to Sota Nakazawa - 100 J.league games and going strong .... it can't be too long before he takes the place of his namesake, Yuji, in the national team!!

Gamba began this game with an adventurous attacking formation, with the youth of Hirai and Usami up front, with Lucas supporting from the left of midfield - as has often been the case this season. As noted, Endo returned to midfield, ably supported by Lucas, Hashimoto and Myojin. Kaji and Michi Yasuda were the usual full backs, and Yamaguchi and Nakazawa controlled the centre of defence. Fujigaya completed the line-up, in goal.

Although it was all Gamba for the first period of play, with Usami twice coming close early on, it was Reds who scored, against the run of play, as Edmilson glanced/mis-directed (delete as applicable!) a header from a right wing cross past Fujigaya to make it 1-0 after 18 minutes. This ddn't get the home team down, though, and Endo and Hirai in particular seemed to be on a crusade to hit a hat trick each, going narrowly wide, or getting thwarted by last minute blocks time and again. Indeed Hirai curled a super shot just onto the bar in the minutes before the break before, finally, Endo's pinpoint pass put Usami through, and he held off a defender before calmly placing the ball wide of the keeper to take Gamba in level at half time.

The 2nd half began with a Gamba onslaught, Reds hardly getting a look-in but no finishing touch was seen. In the 49th minute Hirai and Usami turned provider to Endo, for a change, and his shot was just over. In the 55th minute, after sustained possession and patient passing a pass to Endo saw the national team midfielder beat two defenders with feints to shoot before sending the ball just wide of the post. Moments later and Hashimoto and Lucas combined to send Hirao through and he curled a shot just wide. In the 59th Lucas had a 25 yarder saved, and Kaji got in on the act minutes later, his attempt getting deflected desperately for a corner.

Lee came on for Hirai in the 65th minute and immediately drew a free kick from Tsuboi, who was all over him on the wing. The resulting Endo free kick was pushed away for another corner. In the 67th a dangerous crossfield pass was intercepted by Usami who, in one movement, slipped a side a defender and sent in a shot that was, again just wide of the target. but a minute later, the referee struck a blow for Gamba, as Lucas mis-timed a tackle and was shown a straight red card by the hapless referee - who obviously had never actually PLAYED football in his life, or he would have accepted that it was an unintentional, mis-timed tackle from Lucas. A warning, an apology to the Reds player, who felt no lasting effect, it must be noted, and perhaps a yellow card, but a red? Total over-reaction.

Although down a man now, Gamba were still going for the win and Tsuboi was really being given the runaround by Lee .... 5 or 6 fouls getting no card action from the man in black, unbelievably. Shortly after Lucas had departed the filed, Endo was at it again, spotting Usami running free behind the defence. A superb ball for Endo appeared to be reaching its target until Yamada managed to get a head to it. Unfortunatey this head only directed the ball into the Reds net, and Gamba were deservedly up 2-1 and hoping to hang on a man short! But "hanging on" did not see to be in Gamba's vocabulary as they continued to pass, possess and go for goal. Lee, in particular was now really rubbing Tsuboi's nose in it, and how the Reds defender stayed out of the book, and even on the field demands question!

With minutes to go, Takei and Takagi replaced Usami and Yasuda to shore up the defence / bring on fresh legs / waste some seconds. Meanwhile Tsuboi got in a hack on Lee - again - and still no card but the referee soon got over-excited again when Yamada finished off his already bad day with an early shower, but, again, it was really a case of over-reaction by the referee as Yamada took Lee from behind but, again, to anyone who has played the game, it could be seen it was unintentional. But Yamada got the evening-up red card and the referee earned his bonus!?

So, going in to added time, Gamba were finally feeling the pressure, although, ironically, it was when Reds went down to ten men that the breakthrough came as Edmilson headed his second of the day to bring Urawa level. The home fans were stunned, the away fans "slightly perked up" and figured they were going home with a barely-deserved point ......... but wait ... there was more drama to come.

In the final seconds, Takei took the ball down the left wing and slipped a cool pass through to Lee on the line. he looked up and in one fluid movement perfectly slippedf the ball into the path of Endo 20-plus yards out. He looked up, time stood still, a hush seemed to descend over the ground, even though it was a split second in real time. Keanu Reeves, bullet time, The Matrix .... it was all here - Endo had time to pick a spot, and placed the ball high in the net for a rapturous ending for the Banpaku faithful.  3-2, three points, yatta Yatto!!

Over 20,000 fans were out in force today. of course, there were plenty of Reds gloryhunters in evidence in the main and back stands, but the away fans behind the goal have to be given some credit. They never stopped getting behind their team and must have gone home disappointed after getting that late equalizer, although, a single point for Gamba after this display would not have been justice. Welcome home Mr. Endo - you were missed! But Lee seems a huge addition to the Gamba attacking roster. With the emergence of Usami, Hirai and Otsuka, Gamba's attacking future seems bright. The famed midfield has a few years left in it yet, so, Mr. Nishino, let's look at the back line and aim for a Championship challenge and another ACL win by 2012?!